The police were collecting evidence. The public prosecutor was preparing for the case but there was no lawyer ready to support Ramesh. In the whole district, there was just one man who could’ve saved him from the shackles of law. It was Yashwant. But would Yashwant, who didn’t even want to hear Ramesh’s name, stand in support of Ramesh? Impossible.
It was nine at night. A woman entered Yashwant’s room. Yashwant was reading the newspaper. He asked, ‘What do you want?’
‘I want a lawyer for my husband,’ said the woman.
‘Who’s your husband?’ asked Yashwant.
‘The one who studied with you and on whom a false case of robbery was slapped.’
Yashwant got up with a start and asked, ‘Are you Ramesh’s wife?’
‘Yes.’
‘I can’t be his lawyer.’
‘As you wish. You are from this district and you were my husband’s friend. That is why I thought I should not go to a stranger. Now I’ll call somebody either from Allahabad or Calcutta.’
‘Can you pay them for their service?’
‘What are the charges of a big lawyer?’
‘Three thousand rupees a day.’
‘That’s all? Please accept this case then, I’ll pay you three thousand rupees per day.’
‘Three thousand rupees per day!’
‘Absolutely. And if you are able to get him acquitted, then I’ll give you fifty thousand rupees as a reward.’
Greed filled Yashwant’s heart. If the case ran for two months, he could earn at least one lakh rupees. On top of that, there was the reward. It would be a deal of two lakh rupees. He hadn’t been able to earn this much money in his entire life. But what would people say? His own conscience didn’t support him. To save such a man from the hands of the law was like murdering a lot of people. But it was a question of two lakh rupees. And his group wouldn’t perish even if Ramesh was given punishment. His followers would be there. They would probably make even more trouble. Then why should I let these two lakh rupees go? I won’t be able to show my face to anyone, no problem. I don’t care if people are happy or displeased with me. I can’t let go of so much money. I’m not throttling anyone, I’m not robbing anyone. It’s my duty to save the accused.
Suddenly, the woman asked, ‘What’s your answer?’
‘I’ll give you an answer tomorrow. Let me think about it.’
‘Oh no, I don’t have so much time. If you have a problem, then tell me clearly. I’ll explore other options.’
Yashwant was not granted any time to reflect on the matter. A hasty decision is always taken in self-interest. There’s no possibility of any loss here.
‘Can you give me some money in advance?’ Yashwant asked the woman.
‘Please do not mention money again and again. What is money worth against his life? You take as much money from me as you want. Even if you are not able to get him acquitted make sure you give a tough fight to the government.’
‘No problem. I’ll fight the case. I must have some consideration for our old friendship.’10
The police tried their best, and presented a plethora of evidence. The informer gave a full account. But Yashwant offered such arguments, picked so many holes in the evidence and pulled up the informer with such finesse that Ramesh was acquitted without a stain on his character. The court couldn’t produce any further proof of his crimes. The fact that a sober and sagacious lawyer was pleading for the plaintiff was proof enough that the government had committed some error.
It was dusk. A tent was pitched in front of Ramesh’s door. The poor were being fed. His friends were invited. The celebration was in honour of Ramesh’s acquittal. Everyone was thanking Yashwant. Ramesh was being congratulated. Yashwant tried to engage Ramesh in conversation several times but the latter just turned his face away. So far they had not exchanged even a single word. Eventually Yashwant said, annoyed, ‘I can see you’re avoiding me, as though I’ve done you a bad turn.’
‘And do you think you’ve done me a good turn? Earlier, you destroyed my prospects for this world, this time you’ve spoiled my hereafter. If you had done justice to me on the earlier occasion, my life would’ve been saved. And this time if you had allowed me to go to jail my future would’ve been saved.’
‘Don’t you admit that I acted with extreme courage in your case?’
‘You did not act with courage; you acted out of self-interest. You are a worshipper of your own interests. I consider you a “hired pony”. I know I’ve ruined my life to a considerable extent but I’m not ready to exchange it for your life. Don’t expect any gratitude from me.’
Translated from the Hindi by M. Asaduddin
A Mother’s Heart1
The world was collapsing into darkness for Madhavi. None of her kin were around to assist her. There was no flicker of hope anywhere. She lived alone in that deprived house and there was no one to wipe her tears. Twenty-two years had passed since her husband’s death. There was no wealth in the house. One can only wonder under what circumstances she had brought up her child; now that young boy had been taken away from her. If he had died, she could have somehow consoled herself. One can’t hold a grudge against death. But this torture at the hands of those selfish people was unbearable. In a state of such great anguish, her heart grew uneasy and she often thought of taking revenge upon the one responsible for inflicting this cruel blow on her straightaway. There were only two choices left—kill the enemy or accept death; both would have brought contentment. How good-looking and promising the boy was, the token of her late husband, the sole meaning of her existence
